Losing Control

CONNOR

I saw her walk out to one of the balconies and I wanted to follow her. Her family was enjoying the party and they mingled with the guests as if they knew them for a while. I wasn’t sure what it was, but as soon as I saw her eyes, something was telling me I should get to know her. But, should I? I was confused, not knowing what to do.

“Are you okay, Connor?” Ximena asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. I smiled at her and kissed her head lovingly. 

“I’m fine. Why don’t we go outside and get some fresh air?” I said as an excuse to see her. I needed to know who she was and why her family moved here.

“You read my mind. It’s a little stuffy here,” she replied as I grabbed her hand and we walked together to the same balcony that girl was. As soon as we walked out the double doors, I saw her looking at the horizon, the sun setting behind the mountains was quite the sight and she was enjoying it. 

“Hope you’re enjoying the view,” I said, as smooth as I could. Ximena let go of my hand and approached her, extending her hand to introduce herself. 

“Hi, I’m Ximena Rose. Welcome to the Red Rose P….to Red Rose Town.” 

I let out a sigh of relief. She almost gave away the name of the pack and I was sure the family didn’t even know this was an actual wolf town. 

“Zaire Morales. Nice to meet you,” she replied, shaking Ximena’s hand. 

“This is exciting. I hope we can be good friends. This here is Connor Jenkins, my boyfriend.”

I extended my hand to shake hers, when I heard something growl right where she was standing, but it was not an annoyed growl, but a gentle one. I pulled back right away and put my hands on Ximena’s waist. Zaire awkwardly looked away and I admired her from where I was standing, careful not to let Ximena see. 

The growling sound kept going, loud enough for anyone to hear it and Ximena looked at me knowingly. We leaned against the balcony rail, trying to make small talk with Zaire, but she was silent. 

“So, I’m sure you’ll be happy here. We all care for each other and our school is one of the best in the country. We also have great people in town and if you ever need help, they’ll always be there for you,” Ximena spoke, smiling widely at Zaire. I could see her looking at me with the corner of her eyes before she turned around to face us. 

“It was really nice to meet you both, but I think I’ll just join my family back inside,” she said, waving at us and walking into the ballroom. Ximena turned around to look at me, a bit of confusion plastered on her face as her eyes glowed an intense golden. 

“Did you hear that? I know you can hear our wolves, Connor. She must be one of us,” she whispered, looking around to make sure Zaire was gone. 

“Yes, I heard her. I wondered if she even knows she has a wolf. I mean, she has human parents,” I replied, putting my hands inside my pockets as I looked at her family chatting and laughing with the guests. I could see Zaire standing next to them, quiet. The little boy with her was trying to get her attention, but she was too focused on something else to listen to him.

“Ah, here you are,” Adryan, Jedrick’s brother, not to mention next in line for the throne, appeared in front of us. He was always showing a negative aura and no one in the pack seemed to like him. A lot of people suspect he had something to do with the heir’s disappearance just to take over the throne as soon as the Alpha passed away.

“Adryan, nice to see you,” Ximena greeted, pulling him for a hug.

“I hope you are enjoying the festivities. Quite the family there, let’s hope they don’t find out soon enough who we are, or it will be a big shock,” he said, looking inside with a light scowl on his face as his eyes traveled to Zaire. There was something about her.

“Yes, we’re enjoying it very well. It’s really a breath of fresh air to receive a new family in town,” I replied with a faint smile, holding Ximena tightly against me. 

“Not when they’re humans. Do you remember how your father almost failed the warrior test? He was weak and pathetic. I’m not sure how my brother could give him a chance and let him join the warriors,” he replied, taking a sip of a bourbon glass he had in his hands. Did I mention he was a bit drunk? Well, he is and anything that escaped his mouth was nothing but instigation and hateful comments. 

“Why don’t we go inside, Ximena? I think we had enough air for one night.”

I put my hand in the small of her back and led her inside, trying to get her away from Adryan. He was bad news and always will be. 

We joined our friends who were eating and drinking on the table. Leonard was chatting with Jessie, a girl from our class who always had an interest in him. 

            But he was still staring at Ximena and I was trying to be calm and collected about it. I pulled the chair for Ximena to sit down and kissed her at the same time I looked at Leonard, just to remind him she was with me. He was my best friend, but he had to know when to cross the line.

“So, have you met the family yet?” Ximena asked, shifting uncomfortable on her seat as she looked at Leonard. 

“Yes, we met them. Even Zaire. Did you know she has a wolf in her?” Leonard asked. Of course we knew. We just met her at the balcony. I grabbed a glass and poured some soda and ice in it before I gulped it down, the fizz bubbling in my throat as it went down. 

“Yes, we noticed. Even Connor did. There’s a mystery there and I’m sure Alpha Jedrick knows something we don’t. We need to find out who she is,” Ximena replied. I was silent, looking at Leonard with the corner of my eyes as he was still looking at her. 

“Would you cut that out, already?” I snapped as I turned my head towards him.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, confused. His date was also looking at us while the awkward interaction went down. 

“You think I don’t see you staring at Ximena? Let me remind you that she is with me, Leonard.”

“I know that, Connor. Why would you think I’m looking at her a certain way. We’re friends, aren’t we?” he asked with a big frown on his face. Jessie was feeling uncomfortable and was telling him to bring her home, but he was not budging.

“Well, I’m sure you’re looking at her as if you want her for yourself. Can you at least have the decency to wait until you both turn eighteen to find out if you belong to each other?” I was already upset when I felt Ximena’s hand on mine. 

“Calm down, Connor. Nothing is happening,” she said, kissing my lips softly while I heard Leonard’s wolf suddenly growling. He was trying to claim his property, but he was too early for that. I was not going to let him take her away from me, not until they at least are sure they were mates.

And even that, I won’t let her be with him.

“Let’s just go home, Connor. We can end this at my place,” she suggested. 

“I’ve been warning you, Connor. As a friend, I told you that being with a wolf is hard. They don’t belong to you as they have their own mates to claim. You’re human, you wouldn’t know.”

I saw red and before I knew it, I was already on top of him, punching his face. My anger had gone too far and I knew it, but I didn’t care. 

Leonard tried to control himself, it was not convenient for him to show his wolf. Not in front of the new family. 

“Connor, stop!” Ximena cried, but I was blind with rage. I just wanted to teach him a lesson, even if it was shameless to fight with your friend over a girl. 

I heard another growl and when I looked up, I saw Zaire standing next to me. She was standing next to her parents and holding her brother who was crying, scared. I let go of Leonard and stood up, dusting myself and grabbing Ximena by the arm before I walked out. 

I sure would never hear the end of this, not from my parents and not from the Alpha. I knew I would be in deep trouble.